Systems and methods for laboratory testing and result management

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising displaying a laboratory test menu on a mobile computing device, where the test menu is variable-based on geographic location; selecting one or more tests from said test menu; and using the mobile computing device to send a laboratory test request to a server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/010,421 filed Jun. 10, 2014 and to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/480,600 filed Sep. 8, 2014 which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/874,983 filed Sep. 6, 2013. All of the foregoingare fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Laboratory testing of blood samples from patients has traditionally beenbased on a physical, paper laboratory test request that a patientreceives from a doctor. That physical document is usually thenphysically delivered by the patient to a technician or administrator ata laboratory facility or a patient service center. Typically, afterwaiting for his or her turn at that facility or center, a patient isthen attended to by a phlebotomist who extracts blood from the patientby way of venipunture. Before venipunture, the phlebotomist selects thecorrect number and type of vacuum blood collection tubes for the desirednumber and/or types of tests set forth in the laboratory test request.The phlebotomist ensures that blood from the venipunture fills thecorrect number and types of tubes. Unless the laboratory tests wereordered STAT or other expedited basis, the patient will wait days orweeks before being notified of the results of the laboratory test.Usually, the notification comes from the doctor or someone in thedoctor's office, not from the laboratory that conducted the test.

This process of traditional paper-based test requests and traditionaltesting infrastructure, has created a legacy system that can beunnecessarily slow and burdened by various limitations.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

COPYRIGHT

This document contains material subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner (Applicant herein) has no objection to facsimilereproduction of the patent documents and disclosures, as they appear inthe US Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice shallapply: Copyright 2014 Theranos, Inc.

SUMMARY

The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome byembodiments of systems and methods provided herein.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided comprisingdisplaying a laboratory test menu on a mobile computing device, wherethe test menu is variable-based on geographic location; selecting one ormore tests from said test menu; and using the mobile computing device tosend a laboratory test request to a server.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided displaying alaboratory test menu on a mobile computing device, where the test menuis variable-based on geographic location, selecting one or more testsfrom said test menu; scheduling an appointment for the laboratory test;and using the mobile computing device to send a laboratory test requestand appointment information to a server.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided using amobile computing device to schedule an appointment time for a laboratorytest; displaying a laboratory test menu on the mobile computing device,selecting one or more tests from said test menu, wherein the test menuis variable-based on geographic location; and using the mobile computingdevice to send a laboratory test request and appointment information toa server.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided displaying alaboratory test menu on a mobile computing device, selecting one or moretests from said test menu, wherein the test menu is variable-based ongeographic location; displaying pricing of the laboratory tests selectedby the user, wherein a total price and line item price are displayed tothe user prior to the user sending a laboratory test request; having theuser confirm the laboratory test request; and using the mobile computingdevice to send a laboratory test request and any appointment informationto a server.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided displaying aplurality of laboratory test results on a mobile computing device,wherein each of said test results has an acceptable range that isdepicted as a shape on a display of the mobile computing device, whereinthe shapes of two or more of the test results are normalized such that alongest physical dimension of such shape depicting an acceptable rangeis displayed in manner that is the same between each of the testresults.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided associatinginsurance coverage information with a user account that is accessible byway of a mobile computing device, wherein insurance coverage of alaboratory test request is confirmed and displayed to the user to showthe user's copayment and any other payment requested from the user for alaboratory test request for that user.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided associatinga plurality of health care insurances with a user account that isaccessible by way of a mobile computing device, wherein insurancepriorities in terms of which insurance is charged first is re-orderableby the user and wherein insurance coverage of a laboratory test requestis confirmed and displayed to the user to show the user's copayment andany other payment requested from the user for a laboratory test requestfor that user.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided associatinga plurality of dependent patient information with a user account that isaccessible by way of a mobile computing device, wherein the associatingoccurs by way of importing name and other identifying information from acontact list already on or accessible from the mobile computing device.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided associatinga plurality of medical provider information with a user account that isaccessible by way of a mobile computing device, wherein the associatingoccurs by way of importing name and other identifying information from acontact list already on or accessible from the mobile computing device.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided creating auser account for accessing laboratory test data from a mobile computingdevice wherein the user is required to: acknowledge reading andunderstanding text related to medical, acknowledge reading andunderstanding text related to terms of use; and reading andacknowledging text related to privacy policy; wherein all of theforegoing is to be completed before the user account is created.Optionally, some embodiments may select one or more data fields asnon-mandatory fields so that a user account can be created withoutnecessarily completing those fields or with non-acceptable data entriesin those fields.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided capturing animage of a laboratory test request document from a mobile computingdevice wherein the image is processed after capture to create acorrected image from which data is extracted to include the laboratorytest request in association with the user account; wherein the correctedimage is created using an image correction algorithm that removesdefects in the image associated with fold lines or substantially lineartype aberrations in the image; wherein the corrected image is comparedto images of known laboratory forms to compare and correct for datacaptured from the corrected image.

It should be understood that embodiments in this disclosure may beadapted to have one or more of the features described below. In onenonlimiting example, the test menu may be based on where sample will becollected and/or where sample analysis will be conducted. The availabletests may be the same in multiple jurisdictions. Optionally, tests fromdifferent jurisdictions will have different sets of available tests.

In one embodiment as described herein, non-transitory tangible computerreadable media comprising machine-executable code for implementingmethods provided herein may be provided as a stand-alone andtransportable product (e.g. a DVD, flash drive, magnetic tape, or otherform of removable/insertable computer-readable media), such that theprogram or software stored thereon can be loaded onto one or moredifferent computers, servers, or other computing devices, in order toimplement one or more methods provided herein (or elements thereof). Inother embodiments, non-transitory tangible computer readable mediacomprising machine-executable code for implementing methods providedherein may be provided as part of a computing system involving multiplecomponents (e.g. a server or personal computer). In embodiments, a usermay interact with software on a server via a client application runningon a user device, which is coupled to the server via a network. Forexample, the software may include a WWW-based interface to allow aremote user/client to access and view account-related information. Inembodiments, software running on a server may provide certain featuresto a user (e.g. a WWW-based interface), while performing variousprocesses/operations on the server.

In one embodiment as described herein, a laboratory test apparatus isprovided that is taking the form of a machine readable storage medium(e.g., hard disk, CD, or other medium) (or multiple media) whichcontains a set of software instructions for execution by a processor forperforming methods provided herein.

In embodiments, methods provided herein may be implemented usinghardware, software, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, softwarecode may be implemented using one or more processors, which may bedistributed between one or more computing devices.

In one embodiment as described herein, a method is provided for allowinga customer to schedule a clinical laboratory test with an applicationexecuting on a internet enabled mobile device, where the internetenabled mobile device includes a processor, a memory coupled to theprocessor and a camera configured to capture a barcode image that has atleast a test number encoded therein, the method comprising: causing theprocessor to display an interface in the application executing on theinternet enabled mobile device, the interface for selection of a testoption; receiving an input at the processor from the customerindicating, via the application, a selection of the test order toschedule; the application causing the processor to activate the internetenabled mobile device's camera for scanning of a barcode; theapplication causing automatically or upon a user input, the camera tocapture an image, displayed in the application, of the barcodeindicating at least a test number corresponding to a test, a patient, ora test and a patient; the application causing the processor to transmitfrom the application, over a network, to a server, data indicative of atleast the test number so that the server can automatically validate thetest number by verifying that the test number exists in a database oftest numbers corresponding to available tests; receiving information atthe internet enabled mobile device, over the network, at least a portionof which is to be displayed in an order review page of the applicationexecuting on the internet enabled mobile device; causing the processorto generate a display in the application including the at least theportion of received information in an order review page, wherein theinformation includes the test number and a test site location wheresample for the test will be collected; wherein the information to bedisplayed in the order review page includes the collection location andan option to change the test site location; transmitting from theinternet enabled mobile device, in response to an action by the customerviewing the displayed order review page, to the server and via thenetwork, a confirmation of test appointment.

Optionally, the method of receiving data corresponding to the testinformation to be displayed in an order review page further comprisesreceiving a default appointment time and a default date.

Optionally, the method of causing the processor to generate the displaycomprises displaying an option to facilitate a change by the customer tothe default test time and the default test date before transmitting theorder confirmation.

Optionally, the method of receiving at the internet enabled mobiledevice the validation of the test number.

Optionally, the method of causing the processor to generate the displaycomprises displaying either the most recent sample collection locationat which the test order sample was collected or a default location for apatient associated with the test number.

Optionally, the method of causing the processor to generate anotherdisplay that includes an identified area to assist the customer inpositioning the internet enabled mobile device's camera over thebarcode.

Optionally, the method of causing the camera to capture the image of thebarcode comprises causing the processor to automatically recognize thatthe barcode is present in the identified area.

Optionally, the method of causing the camera to capture the image of thebarcode indicating at least a test number further comprises causing theprocessor to decode the barcode to determine the test number.

Optionally, the method of causing the processor to transmit, over thenetwork, to the server, data indicative of at least the test numbercomprises transmitting the captured image, over the network, to theserver and further comprises receiving at the internet enabled mobiledevice at least the test number that was decoded at the server from thecaptured image.

In a still further embodiment described herein, a non-transitory,computer-readable storage medium is provided wherein the medium hascomputer-executable instructions stored in a memory, the instructions tobe executed on a processor in an internet enabled mobile device forproviding an application operable to allow a user access to a test orderby scan test form system, the computer executable instructionscomprising instructions for: causing the processor to generate a firstdisplay in the application executing on the internet enabled mobiledevice to allow a user to order test(s) from within the application; theapplication causing the processor to activate a camera in theapplication executing on the internet enabled mobile device to scan abarcode automatically or in response to a user input; the applicationcausing the camera to capture an image of the barcode indicating atleast a test number; the application causing the processor to transmitfrom the application executing on the internet enabled mobile device atleast data indicative of the test number to a point-of-service (POS)server so that the server can verify the test number by verifying thatthe test number exists in a database of test numbers corresponding topreviously filled test medications; receiving over a network at theinternet enabled mobile device test information when the test number wasverified; the application causing the processor to generate a seconddisplay in the application, the second display including the testinformation on the internet enabled mobile device; wherein the testinformation to be displayed in the second display of the applicationincludes a test location and an option to change the test location;receiving at the internet enabled mobile device, via the application, aconfirmation input from the user; the application causing the processorto transmit from the internet enabled mobile device confirmationinformation to the server; receiving at the internet enabled mobiledevice order receipt information from a server; and causing theprocessor to generate a third display in the application, the thirddisplay including the order receipt information on the internet enabledmobile device.

Optionally, the method further comprises instructions for: causing theprocessor to transmit stored contact information to the server, thestored contact information comprising one of: a stored email address, aphone number associated with the internet enabled mobile device, and adevice identification other than a phone number.

Optionally, the method further comprises instructions for: causing theprocessor to generate on one of the displays an option to facilitate achange by the user to a default test time and a default test date beforetransmitting the confirmation information.

Optionally, the method comprises causing the camera to capture the imageof the barcode comprises causing the processor to automaticallyrecognize that the barcode is present.

In a still further embodiment described herein, a system is provided forreceiving a clinical test order for one or more clinical tests, thesystem comprising: a communication network; one or more internet enabledmobile devices, each internet enabled mobile device having a processor,a memory coupled to the processor and a camera coupled to the processorand the memory; and one or more server computers communicatively coupledto the communication network and the one or more internet enabled mobiledevices; one of the one or more internet enabled mobile devices havingan application stored thereon; the application configured to cause theprocessor to display an interface in the application executing on theinternet enabled mobile device, the interface for selection of a testordering option; the application configured to receive an input at theprocessor from the customer indicating, via the application, a selectionof the test order option; the application configured to cause theprocessor to activate the internet enabled mobile device's camera forscanning of a barcode; the application configured to cause,automatically or upon a user input, the camera to capture an image,displayed in the application, of the barcode indicating at least a testnumber, the test number corresponding to a test medication and apatient; the application configured to cause the processor to transmitfrom the application, over the communication network, to at least one ofthe one or more server computers, data indicative of at least the testnumber so that the server can automatically validate the test number byverifying that the test number exists in a database of test numberscorresponding to a previously filled test medication; the applicationconfigured to receive information at the internet enabled mobile device,over the communication network, at least a portion of which is to bedisplayed in an order review page of the application executing on theinternet enabled mobile device; the application configured to cause theprocessor to generate a display in the application including the atleast the portion of received information in an order review page,wherein the information includes the test number and a sample collectionlocation where the test medication in the test will be filled; theapplication configured to transmit from the internet enabled mobiledevice, in response to an action by the customer viewing the displayedorder review page, to at least one of the one or more server computersand via the communication network, a confirmation to schedule the test.

Optionally, at least one of the one or more server computers is furtherconfigured to transmit to the customer's internet enabled mobile devicedata corresponding to a default test time and a default test date,wherein the default test time and the default test date are editable bythe customer before confirming the order.

Optionally, the application is further configured to allow the customerto edit the default test time and the default test date beforeconfirming the order.

Optionally, at least one of the one or more server computers is furtherconfigured to retrieve a default sample collection location for apatient associated with the test number.

Optionally, at least one of the one or more server computers is furtherconfigured to receive a store number from the internet enabled mobiledevice and associate the store number with a particular POS location.

Optionally, at least one of the one or more server computers is furtherconfigured to electronically transmit the test order to the determinedsample collection location.

A system, comprising: a processor; and a memory communicatively coupledto the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executableinstructions, comprising: a user interface component configured todisplay patient history and accept user input, wherein the patienthistory of the user reflects test results for tests performed on theuser; a result trending component configured to crawl test data of theuser and/or anonymized test data of a plurality of other users, whereintrending data histories reflect test results by respective other usersof the plurality of other users, and identify based on the test resultsof other users, the results the users should try to achieve based onthose other users which are selected based on criteria of interest.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readableinstructions that, in response to execution, cause a system including aprocessor to perform operations, comprising:

Using a mobile application to self-order a laboratory test without aphysician's order, wherein such self-ordering is only activated based ongeographic location of a selected test site that allows for suchself-ordering.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium wherein the operationsfurther comprising: self-ordering a plurality of laboratory tests.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system according to at least one embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 2 shows another system according to at least one embodimentdescribed herein.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show various embodiments of user interfaces and/orworkflows as described herein.

FIGS. 4A to 4H show various embodiments of test result user interfacesand/or workflows as described herein.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show various user interfaces according to at least someembodiments described herein.

FIGS. 6A to 8B show various user interfaces and/or workflows accordingto at least some embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 9A to 9D show a user unlock interface according to at least oneembodiment herein.

FIGS. 10A to 10D show various user interfaces for account setupaccording to at least some embodiments herein.

FIGS. 11A to 12B show various help screens according to at least someembodiments herein.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of an app icon as described in at least oneembodiment herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. It may be notedthat, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a material”may include mixtures of materials, reference to “a compound” may includemultiple compounds, and the like. References cited herein are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety, except to the extent thatthey conflict with teachings explicitly set forth in this specification.

In this specification and in the claims which follow, reference will bemade to a number of terms which shall be defined to have the followingmeanings:

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently describedcircumstance may or may not occur, so that the description includesinstances where the circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.For example, if a device optionally contains a feature for a samplecollection unit, this means that the sample collection unit may or maynot be present, and, thus, the description includes both structureswherein a device possesses the sample collection unit and structureswherein sample collection unit is not present.

As used herein, the terms “substantial” means more than a minimal orinsignificant amount; and “substantially” means more than a minimally orinsignificantly. Thus, for example, the phrase “substantiallydifferent”, as used herein, denotes a sufficiently high degree ofdifference between two numeric values such that one of skill in the artwould consider the difference between the two values to be ofstatistical significance within the context of the characteristicmeasured by said values. Thus, the difference between two values thatare substantially different from each other is typically greater thanabout 10%, and may be greater than about 20%, preferably greater thanabout 30%, preferably greater than about 40%, preferably greater thanabout 50% as a function of the reference value or comparator value.

As used herein, a “sample” may be but is not limited to a blood sample,or a portion of a blood sample, may be of any suitable size or volume,and is preferably of small size or volume. In some embodiments of theassays and methods disclosed herein, measurements may be made using asmall volume blood sample, or no more than a small volume portion of ablood sample, where a small volume comprises no more than about 5 mL; orcomprises no more than about 3 mL; or comprises no more than about 2 mL;or comprises no more than about 1 mL; or comprises no more than about500 μL; or comprises no more than about 250 μL; or comprises no morethan about 100 μL; or comprises no more than about 75 μL; or comprisesno more than about 50 μL; or comprises no more than about 35 μL; orcomprises no more than about 25 μL; or comprises no more than about 20μL; or comprises no more than about 15 μL; or comprises no more thanabout 10 μL; or comprises no more than about 8 μL; or comprises no morethan about 6 μL; or comprises no more than about 5 μL; or comprises nomore than about 4 μL; or comprises no more than about 3 μL; or comprisesno more than about 2 μL; or comprises no more than about 1 μL; orcomprises no more than about 0.8 μL; or comprises no more than about 0.5μL; or comprises no more than about 0.3 μL; or comprises no more thanabout 0.2 μL; or comprises no more than about 0.1 μL; or comprises nomore than about 0.05 μL; or comprises no more than about 0.01 μL.

As used herein, the term “point of service location” may includelocations where a subject may receive a service (e.g. testing,monitoring, treatment, diagnosis, guidance, sample collection, IDverification, medical services, non-medical services, etc.), and mayinclude, without limitation, a subject's home, a subject's business, thelocation of a healthcare provider (e.g., doctor), hospitals, emergencyrooms, operating rooms, clinics, health care professionals' offices,laboratories, retailers [e.g. pharmacies (e.g., retail pharmacy,clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy), drugstores, supermarkets,grocers, etc.], transportation vehicles (e.g. car, boat, truck, bus,airplane, motorcycle, ambulance, mobile unit, fire engine/truck,emergency vehicle, law enforcement vehicle, police car, or other vehicleconfigured to transport a subject from one point to another, etc.),traveling medical care units, mobile units, schools, day-care centers,security screening locations, combat locations, health assisted livingresidences, government offices, office buildings, tents, bodily fluidsample acquisition sites (e.g. blood collection centers), sites at ornear an entrance to a location that a subject may wish to access, siteson or near a device that a subject may wish to access (e.g., thelocation of a computer if the subject wishes to access the computer), alocation where a sample processing device receives a sample, or anyother point of service location described elsewhere herein.

It should also be understood that for any and all of the user interfacefigures shown herein, a colored icon such as but not limited to a greencircle or other shape may be used to indicate where a user may tap,click, or otherwise select an object, item, or other feature visible ona user interface.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, exemplary embodiments of a system foruse with the user interfaces, workflows, and/or other features isdescribed herein. As seen in FIG. 1, there may be one or more cachingservers that are in place to respond to data requests. In someembodiments, the caching server may not have the information requested.In such a scenario, the requesting device can already know to direct therequest to the server with the data base, or optionally, for the cachingserver or other intermediary to direct the request to the server withthe data. By way of example, the caching server can provide informationthat may be relevant to a geographic region or other factor for theserver to be located in manner that responds the data request. Someembodiments may have scheduling information, location information,services information, or the like for users and/or locations in certainareas.

In one embodiment as seen in FIG. 2, the system 100 may comprise, forexample, a primary server 110, a caching server 120, a network 130, anexternal data source 140, and a user device 150. The primary server 110may store or process data, such as laboratory test-related information.The caching server 120 may also store or process data, although itsmajor purpose may be to temporarily store copies of content which isalso available in the primary server. The network 130 may be anystructure which can support the operable connection of and data transferbetween two or more computing devices, such as a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), and may include, for example, anintranet or the Internet. The external data source 140 may be anycomputing device which may store, transmit, receive, or gather data thatmay be accessed by or sent to a server of the system. The user device150 may be any computing device with which a user may review, input, orchange laboratory test-related information. As used herein, a “computingdevice” refers to any device which may store, transmit, receive, gather,or process digital data, and may include, for example, servers, personalcomputers, data storage units, hard drives, portable digital media,smartphones, computer systems, mobile devices, external data sources,user devices, and websites. In embodiments, systems or elements thereofdescribed herein may be implemented as a cloud-computing system.

A primary server 110 may contain, for example, at least a processor 111,a memory unit 112, and a data storage unit 113. In this non-limitingexample, the processor 111 of a server may be a hardware structure whichperforms computational operations of a computer program. In embodiments,a processor 111 may carry out instructions stored in a tangible computerreadable medium. The processor 111 may contain one or moremicroprocessors. A memory unit 112 is a structure for storage of digitalinformation which typically uses volatile storage and is rapidly ordirectly accessible by a processor (e.g. random access memory (RAM)). Adata storage unit 113 is a structure for storage of digital informationwhich typically uses non-volatile storage, and which typically has amuch larger storage capacity than a memory unit 112, but is less quicklyaccessible by the processor 111 than the memory unit (e.g. hard drive).In embodiments, the memory unit 112 or data storage unit 113 may storenon-transitory computer readable media, which may include, for example,code, logic, or instructions for performing methods provided herein. Aprimary server 110 may have any number of processors 111, memory units112, or data storage units 113 (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15,20, 25, 50, 100, 1000, or more of any or each of the processors, memoryunits, or data storage units). A primary server 110 may also containother components, such as a removable media drive (which may accept, forexample, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, or magnetic tape-based storage),input-output (I/O) channels, buses, network interfaces (wired orwireless structures for facilitating data transfer between a server anetwork), or power supplies. A primary server 110 may have a variety ofdifferent shapes and structures. For example, a primary server 110 maybe a dedicated server, or it may be part of a computer which containsother features (e.g. a monitor, peripherals, etc.). In some embodiments,the primary server 110 may be part of, for example, a personal computeror a smart phone.

Optionally, a system provided herein may contain non-transitory tangiblecomputer readable media. Computer readable media can be any availablemedia which can be directly or indirectly accessed by a processor orserver of a system provided herein. Computer readable media may includevolatile and nonvolatile media, as well as removable and non-removablemedia. Computer readable media may be implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information, such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computerstorage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM,flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks(DVDs) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any othermedium which can be used to store information and which may be accessedby a processor or server.

Optionally, a server may be operably connected to one or more externaldata source 140 (e.g. a website with information of interest, a GPSassociated with a computing device of interest, a different server, ahard drive); the server may obtain information from such sourcesas-needed or at regular intervals. In embodiments, a server may includedata mining hardware or software, such as software configured to searchthe Internet or predetermined web sites (e.g., “weather.com”) on theinternet to obtain data of interest. In embodiments, an external datasource 140 may be a data storage unit operably connected to the server.A server may have load balancing, task management, and backupcapacities. The components of a server may be within a single housingunit, or they may be distributed between two or more housing units. Aserver may be implemented as a distributed network of processors,memory, and storage units. A server may contain or be operably connectedto a database (for example, the database may be in a data storage unitof the server or in an external data source). The processor of a servermay run a computer program or software, the instructions of which may beprovided from, for example, a data storage unit, removable media, or adata storage unit operably connected to the server. In embodiments, twoor more servers may act together to function as a server. Servers maycommunicate with any number and type of computing devices. The servermay engage in one-way or two-way communication with computing devices.Other server components or configurations not explicitly discussedherein but known in the art may be included in servers and systemsdescribed herein.

By way of non-limiting example, the primary server 110 may contain or beoperably connected one or more databases of information relevant tolaboratory testing. For example, databases may contain informationrelating to users or patient accounts, such as patient home addresses,patient contact information (e.g. phone number, e-mail address), billinginformation, emergency contact information, insurance information,appointment histories, medical records, user login names and passwords,patient healthcare provider information, or other information. Theprimary server 110 may, with the aid of a processor, use data from oneor more sources to perform methods relating to laboratory test analysisor scheduling Optionally, the caching server 120 may have any of thecomponents or configurations of the primary server 110 describedelsewhere herein. Generally, the caching server 120 is optimized fortemporary storage of frequently-accessed content from the primary server110, in order to increase the speed at which the content can bedelivered to a client/user and to decrease the number of operations tobe performed by the primary server 110 (and in turn, to increase theperformance of the primary server 110). The caching server 120 may storecontent in either or both of the memory unit 122 or data storage unit123. In systems and methods provided herein, the caching server maystore, for example, appointment information for one or more healthservice centers. The caching server 120 may be configured to regularlyupdate from the primary server 110 its cached content. In embodiments, acaching server 120 may be located in a particular geographic area, andmay be configured to respond to data requests from users the same orrelated geographic areas. For example, a first caching server 120 couldbe provided in North Carolina to respond to requests based in theeastern United States, a second caching server 120 could be provided inTexas to respond to requests based in the central United States, and athird caching server 120 could be provided in California to respond torequests based in the central United States. In embodiments, two or morecaching servers 120 may be operably connected to a single primary server110. In other embodiments, two or more caching servers 120 may beoperably connected to two or more primary servers 110. In embodiments, asystem provided herein may contain more caching servers 120 than primaryservers 110, more primary servers 110 than caching servers 120, or equalnumbers of primary servers 110 and caching servers 120.

Optionally, the network 130 may be any structure which can support theoperable connection of and data transfer between two or more computingdevices, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), and may include, for example, an intranet, an enterprise privatenetwork, the Internet, cellular, or satellite networks. The network mayinclude, for example, one or more of wireless connections, wiredconnections, or fiber optic connections. Computing devices (e.g.servers, external data sources, and user devices) may connect to thenetwork 130 by wired or wireless technologies. For example, a computingdevice may connect to the network 130 via wired technologies such as adial-up connection with a modem, a direct link such as TI, ISDN, cable,Firewire, USB, or Ethernet wire. In other examples, a computing devicemay connect to the network 130 via wireless technologies such asBluetooth,®, infrared (IR), radio frequency (RF), ZigBee, Z-wave,wireless USB, code division multiple access (CDMA) or global system formobile communications (GSM). In embodiments, data may be encryptedbefore it is transmitted over the network 130.

Optionally, the external data source 140 may be any computing devicewhich may store, transmit, receive, or gather data that may be accessedby or sent to a server of the system. External data sources include, forexample, other servers, hard drives (e.g. IDE, ATA, or SATA drives),databases, personal computers, data storage units, hard drives, portabledigital media, smartphones (e.g. Apple iPhone, Android-enabled phone),mobile devices, and computer systems, global positioning system (GPS)devices. An external data source may be portable or non-portable/at afixed location. In embodiments, an external data source 140 may becapable of obtaining geolocation data, such as by wireless triangulationor a GPS system. In embodiments, an external data source 140 may be onor associated with a subject (e.g. on a subject's wrist or in asubject's pocket or handbag). The external data source 140 may be aportable computing device in proximity to the subject such that themeasured location of the device corresponds to the location of thesubject. The device may be a portable computing device the subjectcarries for other purposes. For example, the device may be a smartphone, such as an iPhone or Android-enabled phone, capable of gatheringgeolocation data, such as with the aid of a GPS module of the device.The device may be an iPad or other portable computing device, such as awatch capable of gathering geolocation data. A client-serverrelationship, peer-to-peer, or a distributed relationship, may beprovided between the external data source 140 and a server of thesystem. In embodiments, an external data source 140 may communicatedirectly or indirectly with a server. For example, an external datasource 140 may have a direct wired linkage to a server. In anotherexample, an external data source may communicate wirelessly with aserver. In another example, an external data source 140 may communicatewith a server when the external data source is connected to a personalcomputer via a wire, and when the personal computer is connected to theInternet. In embodiments, the external data source 140 is operativelycoupled to the primary server 110. The external data source 140 may becoupled to the primary server 110 such that data travelling between theexternal data source 140 and the primary server 110 passes through thecaching server 120 as it travels between the external data source 140and the primary server 110. Alternatively, the external data source 140may be coupled to the primary server 110 such that data travellingbetween the external data source 140 and the primary server 110 does notpass through the caching server 120 as it travels between the externaldata source 140 and the primary server 110. In embodiments, the systemmay be configured such that the external data source 140 is operativelycoupled to the primary server 110 without passing through or involvingthe caching server 120. With systems and methods provided herein, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 100, 1000 or more external data sources 140 maybe in communication with a server.

Optionally, the user device 150 may be any computing device with which auser may review, input, request, or change laboratory-test relatedinformation. User devices may include, for example, personal computers,tablet computers, smartphones (e.g. Apple iPhone, Android-enabledphone), mobile devices, or computer systems. A user device may beportable or non-portable/at a fixed location. A user device 150 maycontain one or more user interfaces. User interfaces may provideinformation to a user, obtain inputs from a user, or both. A userinterface may have a display, such as a cathode ray tube, plasma, liquidcrystal display (LCD), or light-emitting diode (LED)—based display. Inembodiments, a user interface may include a graphical user interface(GUI) configured to display information to a user on a display, such asappointment time and availability information. A GUI may also beconfigured to receive information from a user, such as by capacitive orresistive touch-screen functions. In some situations, user interfacesmay include camera for video or still images, a microphone for capturingaudible information (e.g., a subject's voice), speakers for providingaudible information, a printer for printing information, or a projectorfor displaying images and/or video on a predetermined viewing surface.Other user interfaces of a user device 150 may include, for example, akeyboard, touch pad, or a computer mouse. A user device may contain aprocessor and local memory and data storage.

In at least some embodiments, certain computing devices may function asboth an external data source 140 and a user device 150 for systemsprovided herein. For example, a GPS receiver-containing tablet computermay both: i) obtain patient location data which is provided to a serverrunning a software program described herein (and thus, function as anexternal data source 140), and ii) provide a user interface such as atouch screen which may display and receive user input regardingappointment times (and thus, function as a user device 150). In otherembodiments, certain computing devices function as either an externaldata source 140 or a user device 150. For example, a stand-alone harddrive operatively coupled to a primary server 110 is an external datasource 140 but not a user device 150. In another example, a computerhaving a display at a health service center to display appointment timeinformation for patients may function as a user device 150 but not anexternal data source 140.

In at least some embodiments, a user may be able to interact withsoftware on a server through a client application running on a userdevice 150. A client application may be, for example, a World Wide Web(WWW)-based interface. A WWW-based interface may be provided, forexample, at a specific URL (e.g. a web page), which users may access viathe network 130 through a user device 150. A user may request aWWW-based interface at a specific URL, and the content may be deliveredto the user device from the primary server 110 or caching server 120. Inembodiments, users may input information on a WWW-based interface, andthe information may be provided to one or both of the primary server 110or caching server 120. In embodiments, a WWW-based interface may permita user to log in to a user account, to permit the user to access one ormore interconnected web pages (e.g. web pages associated with the useraccount). In embodiments, a WWW-based interface may provide laboratorytest—related information. With the WWW-based interface, a user mayoptionally be able to, for example, view appointment-relatedinformation, request an appointment, change an appointment date/time,cancel an appointment, or provide special instructions or commentsrelating to a past or upcoming appointment.

In addition to the system components and configurations described aboveand elsewhere herein, it is also noted that other suitable systemcomponents and configurations may be used with systems and methodsprovided herein. For example, embodiments of methods provided herein canbe implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component(e.g. a primary server) and a front-end component (e.g. a user computerhaving a GUI or Web browser through which a user can interact with acomputer software for performing methods provided herein), in which theback-end component and front-end component are interconnected by anycombination of hardware and software for digital data communication. Inother examples, embodiments of methods provided herein can beimplemented using a single computing device (e.g. where the computingdevice stores relevant data, contains one or more processors forperforming operations described herein, receives user information, anddisplays information to a user). Also, it is noted that the relationshipbetween objects depicted in FIG. 2 and elsewhere here is exemplary, andother relationships are within the scope of systems and methods providedherein. For example, although FIG. 2 depicts an external data source 140being connected to a primary server 110 via a network 130, inembodiments, an external data source may 140 may directly link to aprimary server 110 (i.e. without connecting through a network 130).

Architecture

In one non-limiting example, a high-level architecture for the systemherein may include both hardware and software applications, as well asvarious data communications channels for communicating data between thevarious hardware and software components. In this non-limiting example,the system 100 may be roughly divided into front-end components andback-end components. The front-end components are primarily disposedwithin a point-of service network such as but not limited to one or morestores, retail sites, shopping malls, kiosks, medical offices,non-hospital medical offices, and/or pharmacies. For pharmacies, thefront-end components comprise a number of pharmacy workstations. Theworkstations may be local computers located in the various pharmaciesthroughout the retail network and executing various pharmacymanagement-related applications. For any of the embodiments herein,web-enabled devices (e.g., personal computers, cellular phones, smartphones, web-enabled televisions, etc.) may be communicatively connectedto point-of-service location(s) and the system through a digitalnetwork, as described herein.

It should be understood that the front-end components could alsocomprise a plurality of facility servers disposed at the plurality ofpharmacies instead of, or in addition to, a plurality of pharmacyworkstations. Each of the pharmacies may include one or more facilityservers that may facilitate communications between the web-enableddevices and the back-end components via a digital network, describedbelow, and between the terminals, of the pharmacies via the digitalnetwork, and may store information for a plurality ofcustomers/employees/accounts/etc. associated with each facility. Ofcourse, a local digital network may also operatively connect each of theworkstations to the facility server. Unless otherwise indicated, anydiscussion of the workstations also refers to the facility servers, andvice versa. Moreover, environments other than the pharmacies, such asthe kiosks, call centers, and Internet interface terminals may employthe workstations, the web-enabled devices, and the servers. As usedherein, the term “retailer” refers to any of these points of contact(e.g., call centers, kiosks, Internet interface terminals, etc.) inaddition to the retail store locations, etc. described above. As usedherein, the term “point-of-service provider” refers to any of thesepoints of contact (e.g., call centers, kiosks, Internet interfaceterminals, etc.) in addition to the point-of-service physical locations,etc. described above.

In one non-limiting example, the front-end components may communicatewith the back-end components via the digital network. One or more of thefront-end components may be excluded from communication with theback-end components by configuration or by limiting access due tosecurity concerns. For example, the internet enabled devices may beexcluded from direct access to the back-end components.

In one non-limiting example, the digital network may be a proprietarynetwork, a secure public Internet, a virtual private network or someother type of network, such as dedicated access lines, plain ordinarytelephone lines, satellite links, combinations of these, etc. Where thedigital network comprises the Internet, data communication may takeplace over the digital network via an Internet communication protocol.

It should be understood that different numbers of processing systems,collection locations, and devices may be utilized. For example, thedigital network (or other digital networks, not shown) may interconnectthe system to a plurality of included central processing systems,hundreds of point-of-care locations, and thousands of web-enableddevices. According to the disclosed example, this configuration mayprovide several advantages, such as, for example, enabling nearreal-time uploads and downloads of information as well as periodicuploads and downloads of information. This provides for a primary backupof all the information generated in the express test order process.Alternatively, some of the point-of-care locations such as but notlimited to pharmacies may store data locally on the facility serverand/or the workstations.

Although data that is transmitted may be encrypted, to further protectpatient privacy when such information is displayed, printed, orotherwise conveyed, some or all of certain fields may be masked. Forexample, the drug name and strength or other information may be maskedbut for a numerical portion of medication strength (i.e., “500”) or apatient name (e.g., “Max Jones”) may be masked but for one or twocharacters (e.g., Mxx Jxxxx).

Embodiments of the systems and methods described above are contemplatedin which the system 100 may be implemented in a minimalistic interfacesuited for a web-enabled mobile phone, smart phone, personal digitalassistant, etc., or in an application for execution on such a device.For example, an application for a mobile device (e.g., the web-enableddevices) may be developed for a mobile platform such as the Android,webOS, or iOS mobile technology platforms, originally developed byGoogle Inc., Palm Inc., and Apple Inc., respectively. Accordingly, theapplication may interact with the server described above. Additionallyor alternatively, the application may interact with a server speciallyimplemented and/or designated to provide the express test order servicein cooperation with the application. Moreover, an application designedspecifically to interact with the system may provide the field forentering an email address or, alternatively, may transmit to the webserver (or other server) a stored email address that the user hasassociated with the mobile device. As another option, the applicationcould transmit a phone number associated with the device, an applicationID specific to the application instance operating on the mobile device,or other data (e.g., an internet protocol (“IP”) address or a mediaaccess control (“MAC”) address) associated specifically with the mobiledevice. Accordingly, the system may send one or more notificationmessages when the test time is approaching or if the user is physicallynear the test location. The notification may be transmitted to the emailaddress entered by the user, to the email address transmittedautomatically from the mobile device, to the mobile device as a textmessage, to the application as a notification or message displayedwithin the application, etc.

Mobile-specific web sites may use pared-down versions of HTML web pages,or may implement other “lightweight” web pages written in languagesincluding Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) or WirelessMarkup Language (WML).

Some embodiments may allow the user to complete an order with as littleas three inputs into two web pages. That is, if the customer navigatesdirectly to a page having a test number field the customer may (1) entera test number, (2) click the continue button, and (3) click the submitbutton after reviewing the test order.

In embodiments implementing a mobile device application, the mobiledevice includes a processor and a memory. The application may beimplemented as a series of machine-readable instructions for performingthe various tasks associated with receiving information at, displayinginformation on, and transmitting information from the internet-enableddevice. Of course, the application itself may, at various times, bestored on the internet-enabled device, a server (not shown) from whichusers download the application to a mobile device, a compact disc, aDVD, etc.

The image capture device may be used by the application to capture animage of a barcode. Throughout this application the use of the word“barcode” is intended to be generic and inclusive of all types ofbarcodes. Barcodes could be, for example, the conventional rectangularsegment barcodes as well as two dimensional QR codes or matrix barcodes.Most QR codes have black modules arranged in a square pattern on a whitebackground. Smaller versions may be referred to as micro QR codes anddesign QR codes include a picture or logo to enhance conversion rates.In some embodiments, the mobile device application may interpret thecaptured barcode image to generate test data (such as a test number) andtransmit the test data to the server. In other embodiments, the mobiledevice application may transmit the barcode image to the server, whichmay interpret the barcode image to obtain test data. In still otherembodiments, the mobile device application may transmit the barcodeimage to a third-party server (not shown) which may interpret thebarcode image to obtain test data and transmit the obtained test data tothe server.

A user executes the application on the mobile device to display a homescreen of the application. The user selects to a test to order and theapplication displays a test scanning screen and activates an imagecapture device (i.e., a camera). The user scans a barcode to determinethe test order number by aligning the camera with a barcode on areceipt, test order, or other documentation, so that the barcode appearsin an area of the screen. The mobile device application, in someembodiments, may automatically recognize that a barcode is present inthe view of the image capture device, and may act automatically tocapture and/or interpret the barcode. In other embodiments, the mobiledevice may require the user to cause the image capture device to capturean image, before the mobile application interprets or otherwise uses thebarcode image. In still other embodiments, the mobile device applicationmay transmit the captured barcode image to a third-party server (notshown) and the third party server may interpret the barcode image andtransmit a test number to the server or back to the mobile deviceapplication for transmission to the server.

In some embodiments, the control that allows the user to change theselected store may activate—or give the user an option to activate—ageolocation device (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) device) in aweb-enabled device, particularly if the device is a mobile device. Thegeolocation device may, by itself or cooperating with anotherapplication or an online service, provide the mobile device applicationwith an indication of the mobile web-enabled device's current position,which the mobile device application may use to determine the closeststore at which the requested tests can be filled.

As described the mobile device application displays the default time,date, and location of test. If the user selects to edit the time, themobile device application displays a pick list of times and thenreceives the time selection input from the user before returning thedisplay to the time, date, and location of test (though no longer thedefault time). Similarly, if the user selects to edit the date, themobile device application may display a pick list of dates and thenreceives the date selection input from the user before returning thedisplay to the time, date, and location of test. Lastly, if the userselects to edit the test store, the mobile device application maytransmit a request to a store finder service/routine which may run on aserver. The mobile device application may receive a response from theservice/routine. After receiving a test location selection input fromthe user, the mobile device application may return the user to the time,date, and location screen.

It should be recognized that different mobile devices may implementdifferent mechanisms for user input. In the examples described above,the mobile phone is assumed to have a touch sensitive display screen.Accordingly, “buttons” which are displayed on the screen and are notphysical buttons, are “pressed” by touching the screen in the area ofthe button. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate that such user interface controls may be accomplished inother manners, such as using soft-keys, navigating controls usingnavigation buttons on a keyboard or using a roller ball, selectingnumbers corresponding to different controls, entering information on akeyboard, etc. Optionally, future embodiment may have interfaces onmultiple “screens” such as but not limited to one or more screens on alateral, back, or other side portion of the device. Some may have curvedscreens that have portions not in the same plane as a primary portion ofthe screen.

User Interface

Referring now to FIGS. 3A to 3B, various screenshots are shown of userinterfaces of various embodiments of an application that may be run on aclient computing unit, such as but not limited to, an internet-enabledmobile computing device. In one non-limiting example, the unit may be atablet computer. Optionally, it may be a handheld computer. Optionally,it may be a cellular telephone. Optionally, it may be a smartphone.Other examples of mobile and/or portable computing devices includingwearable computing devices are not excluded.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, one embodiment of a homepage 200 associatedwith the application is shown. As seen in FIG. 3A, this homepage 200 mayinclude at least one or more of the following. Optionally, someembodiments may have two or more the following. For example, FIG. 3Ashow a banner region 210 wherein information useful to the user can bedisplayed. In one embodiment, the information in banner region 210 willauto scroll, auto update, or self-update to provide different types ofinformation to the user in a sequential or random order. One embodimentmay show the information for a user's next appointment. It may show oneor more of the following: a graphical representation of a calendar dateof the next appointment, location where the user should go for nextappointment, the exact time of the next appointment, a numeral 212indicating how many lab tests may be conducted, and/or a display of anyspecial requirements for the lab test (such as but not limited to oneorder requires fasting, orders requiring consumption of specific itemsduring or prior to testing, etc. . . . ). If a user has more than oneappointment, that number may also be displayed alone or along withselect information associated with the appointment.

FIG. 3B shows another display 214 in the banner region provides medicalinformation about lab tests. In one embodiment, the medical informationto be display is selected to be displayed to the user based on one ormore of lab tests that the user has upcoming, the user has completed, orthat they system, based on the user information, thinks the user maywant to know. In one non-limiting example, it shows medical and otherinformation about relevant laboratory tests, prioritizing ones in theuser's lab order.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, this non-limiting example of a home screenshows that it may include an icon 220 for selecting the finding ofnearby or user selected locations of wellness centers or otherfacilities where a user can go for sample collection. One embodiment mayoptionally include an icon 230 for selecting viewing test results. Thismay include not only the current results but also test result history.One embodiment may optionally include an icon 240 for selectingscheduling an appointment at a nearby or a user selected location forsample collection. One embodiment may optionally include an icon 250 forearly check-in for notifying a wellness center or other samplecollection location that a user is on his or her way to that location.As seen in FIG. 3A, some embodiments may include a numeral 252indicating the number of appointments where the user has checked-inearly.

Optionally, the home screen page may be different for first time user, areturning user with new lab results and a new lab order, and/or areturning user with a scheduled appointment. Optionally, the home screenpage that is a dashboard screen that will display summary of actualresults instead of links or icons that take a user another screen whereresults are shown. On the returning user page, some embodiments may alsoinclude links to past laboratory or other test results and/or to pendinglaboratory orders. Optionally, in at least some embodiments, there maybe a screen showing a health tracker, dashboard, or status pageassociated with one or more user, medical professional, drug company,and/or other party selected factors to display regarding a patient'shealth and/or other specific condition. Optionally, the page showing thehealth tracker and/or status page may have color codes associated withcertain factors, such as but not limited to caution or other alertlevel. Optionally, some may display colors, icons, or visuals associatedwith a good result. Some embodiments may also include numeric values orother more detail information displayed in, next to, near, or otherwiseassociated with the color coded area. Optionally, a health tracker,dashboard, or status page may also include information about anyupcoming appointments and/or laboratory orders.

FIGS. 3A to 3B shows that by tapping on an icon or other symbol, a usercan also reveal or invoke a menu showing navigation to differentinformation displays. The tapping may occur through the use of a user'sfinger, a stylus, a pointer, or other selection device. Optionally, someembodiments may use an image capture device such as but not limited to acamera as part of a tracking system to determine if the eyes, eyelids,or other portion of the user, indicates a selection. As seen in FIG. 3,some embodiments show a variety of actions or options available for theuser. By way of example and not limitation, the menu may slide out fromone side of the screen, from the top down, from the bottom up, and/ormay fade-in. In one non-limiting example, the tabs shown in the menu canbe as shown or can include additional categories not shown. Optionally,it can also show fewer tabs. As seen in FIG. 3, some embodiments maystill show a portion of the underlying page (in this example, showingthe health tracker page) either shifted to one side of the menu, oroptionally, covered by the menu.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A to 4H, various screenshots are shown whennavigating the application workflow through the test result icon 230.Referring now to FIG. 4A, a screen page 260 is shown listing testresults by order, which in this non-limiting example is the date of thetest result.

Optionally, as seen in FIG. 4B, the results may be sorted in one or moreother manners such as but not limited to test type as shown in screenpage 270. FIG. 4B shows that the “by test” listing can sub-group certaintests that are related such as but not limited to leukocyte information233 related to types of white blood cells in the blood test.

Referring back to FIG. 4A, it can be seen in this non-limiting examplethat the information to be displayed may include but is not limited tothe date of the test, the user name, the actual name, the number ofappointments, the number of lab tests, and/or other informationassociated with the test result. As seen in FIG. 4A, the test resultsmay be for one user, or if on a family account, may include results forone or more other subjects that may be part of the family or othergrouping where that individual, if of age, has consented to share theirtest result information. In one embodiment, a parent or legal guardiancan access results of their dependent minors without direct consent fromthe minor.

FIG. 4C shows one non-limiting example of a screen page 280 showing testresult in a numeric and/or a graphical manner. Optionally, someembodiments only present the information in graphical manner.Optionally, some embodiments may present the information as acombination of text and numerals. As seen in FIG. 4C, it should beunderstood that the test results can be displayed on any of variousdevices a user may use to access their test results. By way ofnon-limiting example, test results can be shown on a personal computer,a mobile phone, and/or a tablet computer.

Some embodiments can change the color of the dots, data markers, testvalue, or the like on the data displayed to indicate if the reading isone of concern. For one non-limiting example, some may use the usualred, yellow, and green for test result colors. Optionally, some may useother colors in that spectrum leading from green to red, wherein red isan undesirable test result. Some embodiments can change the color ofletters or in the present embodiment, the color of the dot in the logoso that it can go from green, to yellow, and/or to red if the results ofthe tests are on-balance in an undesirable range.

FIG. 4C also shows that in some embodiments, the “normal” result datarange 282 is normalized so that all of the result bars from the variouslab tests are of substantially the same length. In this manners, thispresents data in a manner that the user may be able to scan visually tosee if any results are outside the normal range. FIG. 4C also shows thatthere may be an information icon 284 associated with each result so thata user has the option to receive more information about what was tested.

It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the data rangemay be shifted so that the out-of-range results are highlighted such asbut not limited to a) showing primarily the high results if that iswhere the out-of-range results are, b) showing primarily the low resultsif that is where the out-of-range results are, and/or c) the entirerange if there are both high and low out-of-range results. Forout-of-range results, in addition or in place of changing the color ofthe dot, number value, or other data marker, some embodiments may changethe entire color of the bar, the height of the bar, the width of thebar, highlight the background of the bar, and/or other visual indicator.

Referring still to FIG. 4C, it should be understood that someembodiments may have more detailed scale bars or lines such that thereare descriptors of deficient, insufficient, high, toxic, or the like forvarious out-of-range test results. In this manner, a user can, inaddition to color or other indicator, have a text descriptor of how theresults compare. It should also be understood that some embodiments canhave a balloon-pop-up or marker for the test result. By way ofnon-limiting example, this pop-up can include the numeric value for thetest result and/or include the coefficient of variation or otheradditional information about the test result numeric value.

Referring now to FIG. 4D, test results may also be reported in text,numerals, or combinations thereof as seen in screen page 290. As seen inFIG. 4D, out-of-normal-range result(s) 292 may be highlighted in avisual manner such as but not limited a font color different from fontcolor for normal results, a font size (larger or smaller) than font sizefont size for normal results, a different front from the font for normalresults, and/or other indicators to a user that the result is not in thenormal range.

In some embodiments, the results may have an overall color or otherindicator (visual shape, color, size, position of data marker, or thelike) of test results being in range. If a certain number of testresults are out of range, then an overall indicator I can show adifferent color, text, or other indicator to let the user know that theoverall results were of a concern. By way of non-limiting example, thenumber or other factor that results in this change in indicator I can beset by a medical professional, by the user, by a laboratory, and/or byanother authorized entity. Optionally, some smaller sized userinterfaces, such as mobile phones or the like, can scale or otherwiseadjust the display so that the results are still shown, but an indicatorI may be removed or otherwise shown in reduced size or at otherlocations on the screen if space is insufficient. Some optional methodsfor indicator I can be a change in color or text I in the title bar,background, or other screen area.

Referring now to FIG. 4E, one non-limiting example of a non-normal rangeresult is displayed on screen page 310. As seen in FIG. 4E, the numericvalue of the result may be visually distinguished by a different colorthan normal results. This embodiment may also be configured so that thedata marker can also be a visual indicator such as but not limited tobeing a different color, different size, different shape, and/or otherindicator showing a difference from normal range results.

Referring now to FIG. 4F, selecting a specific assay result from thetest “results details” screen page will lead us to screen page 320 whichshows a history of test results for that specific assay. By way ofnon-limiting example, FIG. 4F shows one region with the numeric value ofthe test result, a display of the data range, and a graph showing thehistory of results of the assay from current and previous testingevent(s). This historical view of the results may be represented as aline graph, bar chart, or other visual representation to conveyinformation to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 4G, a screen page 330 which shows a history oftest results for that specific assay. By way of non-limiting example,FIG. 4G shows one region with the numeric value of the test result, adisplay of the data range, and a graph showing the history of results ofthe assay from current and previous testing event(s). This historicalview of the results may be represented as a line graph, bar chart, orother visual representation to convey information to the user. FIG. 4Gshows that in the history, there was at least one out-of-rangemeasurements as noted by the different colored data marker and data lineextending outside a normal result reading range shown by the coloredband 326.

Referring now to FIG. 4H, a screen page 340 is shown of text showingtest results displayed in text and color.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A to 5C, still other features will now bedescribed. FIG. 5A shows a screen page wherein a user can confirmpatient information. This may be information about the user. Optionally,the user may be entering information about another person on the user'saccount, such as but not limited to a dependent, spouse, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, one embodiment of a screen page is shown oflab orders listed by date of the laboratory test and with the patientname for the test associated therewith.

Referring now to FIG. 5C, one embodiment of a screen page is shown oflab order details is shown, including an option to add a test order.Details of the upcoming laboratory test may include details regardingthe test such as but not limited to test prerequisites such as whetherthe subject should be fasting or not. As seen in FIG. 5C, there may alsobe an early check-in option available by selecting that option on thescreen page.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A to 6D, still other features will now bedescribed. Although not limited to the following, these screen pages aretypically displayed to the user during the account setup process. Itshould be understood, of course, that embodiments may be configuredwherein these screen pages are accessible to the user through accountsettings options that can be accessed even after initial account setup.FIG. 6A shows a screen page wherein a user is shown their emergencycontacts and has the option to edit such contacts. Optionally, someembodiments may also include the option to add one or more emergencycontacts. This may optionally lead to other screens that allow for inputof this information.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, another screen page that may appear duringaccount setup is a patient consent form screen page. This screen pagemay appear even if the user may have previously setup an account using adifferent method (online, desktop, at a retail site, etc. . . . ) butthis is the first time the user has setup an account on a mobilecomputing device. As seem in FIG. 6B, this form may include a requiredacknowledgement from the user in terms of checkbox, dialog box, or otheritem that must be clicked or require some other action from the userbefore the user can go on with account setup. Optionally, someembodiments may not make such selection a mandatory requirement. Theaction may be used to signify user acknowledgement of the terms andconditions, privacy settings, or other legal language.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, another screen page that may appear duringaccount setup is a patient guardian(s) screen page. This screen page maybe optional depending on the age of the user, as this page is typicallyassociated with users who are considered minors or those who have legalguardians because of other reasons.

Referring now to FIG. 6D, another screen page that may appear duringaccount setup is a medical insurance screen page. FIG. 6D shows thatthis embodiment a screen page is displayed wherein a user is shown theirmedical insurance information associated with the user and has theoption to edit such insurance information. Optionally, some embodimentsmay also include the option to add one or more other insurances.Optionally, if this is an initial account setup, there may be noinsurance information on-file and the user may be prompted to add atleast one insurance into their account. If the user has no insurance,there is an option to note in the system that there is no insuranceassociated with the account. As seen in FIG. 6D, there may be a furtheroption to designate the order for processing the insurance such aswhether the insurance is primary, secondary, tertiary, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A to 8B, still other features will now bedescribed. FIGS. 7A to 8B shows one embodiment of a workflow to setup anappointment at a specific patient service center location. As seen inFIG. 7A, there may be notification “badge” or other indicator 410 toshow the number of lab orders pending. Optionally, another indicator 412shows the number of appointments pending. It should be understood thatthe other categories listed such as but not limited to “results”,“locations”, or others may also include a notification “badge” or otherindicator to show if there is an unread message, active/pending event,or other activity in that category.

Also as seen in FIG. 7A, one option for beginning the schedulingworkflow for a new appointment comprises selecting the “lab orders”option from a dashboard, slide-out menu, or other display of theapplication. Of course, it should be understood that the application mayhave other options to reaching a create-an-appointment screen page.Optionally, a user may be able to arrive at the screen page of FIG. 7Bby selecting the “make appointment” icon from the homepage.

As seen in FIG. 7B, this embodiment of the workflow starts with the userselecting a location for the user's appointment. In one non-limitingexample, this selection may be aided by presenting, graphically,textually, a combination of at least two, a combination of two or moreof the foregoing, or by some other technique, patient service centerlocation(s) near the user's location. This may be based on user locationinformation that the user has opted to share with the application.Optionally, the user can manually enter the zip code, address, city, GPScoordinates, or other location identifier that the user may use toprovide the location near which the user would like to schedule anappointment. Again, based on this information, the patient servicecenter location(s) near that location may be presented graphically,textually, a combination of both, or by some other technique. The numberof locations to be displayed may only show locations within a certaindistance for the set locations. Optionally, some embodiments may beconfigured to display at least two locations to the user, regardless ofthe distance required for the user to travel to display the at least twolocations.

Referring now to FIG. 7C, it should be understood that some embodimentsmay optionally display the following screen page after a user hasselected the patient service center for the appointment. In thisnon-limiting example, the screen page of FIG. 7C shows that the locationselected will include a “tap to schedule appointment” display so thatthe user will confirm the location selection before moving onto the nextscreen page. Optionally, other selection methods such as a drop-downmenu or the like can be used for selecting a location for appointmentscheduling.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a further feature may include a “select timeslot” option for the appointment. This selection of time slot mayoptionally be the workflow after an appointment location is selected.Optionally, some embodiments may initially allow the user to select thetime they would like for their appointment and then display thelocations that have that time slot available. Optionally, someembodiments may display locations which may not have the exact timeslot, but have time slots in a certain time period before and/or afterdesired time slot. Optionally, another embodiment can present a calendar(week, work week, whole week, monthly, etc. . . . ) that shows thenumber of appointments during the whole day, in the morning, in theafternoon, in the evening, or other time segmentation for theappointments at the available location(s).

Optionally, FIG. 8A shows that in this non-limiting example, the screenpage may display at least a portion of a map showing the location of thepatient service center on the map, text stating the facility name andaddress of the patient service center, a partial calendar graphicallyshowing the date selected for the appointment, and text stating the dateof the appointment. Optionally, one embodiment of the screen page mayfurther include options for selecting the time of the appointment on theselected day, such as but not limited to a general time slot refinementoption (morning, afternoon, evening) and specific time slots for selecttimes. As seen in FIG. 8A, the specific time options may be presented as“tiles” listing the times or they may be a “slot machine” type displayfor setting hour, minute, and/or AM/PM.

Referring now to FIG. 8B, once the desired appointment time is selected,in this non-limiting example, a confirmation screen page is displayed asshown in FIG. 8B. In this non-limiting example, again a map insert isshown with a marker thereon for the location of the selected patientservice center for the appointment. In this non-limiting example, abanner is shown with a graphical calendar month/day displayed for theappointment day along with associated text for the day, month, day ofthe week, and time of the appointment. Optionally, the location and nameof the selected patient service center for the appointment is alsodisplayed. Optionally, there is also an option to include theappointment onto a calendaring service associated with the computingdevice. As seen in FIG. 8B, this may be set as a default to be opt-inwith a check box or other selector to opt-out. Optionally, this may bereversed so that the opt-out is the default and opt-in for the calendarwill require user action. Optionally, the calendaring option is notlimited to only one option and other options for calendaring may bepresented. Optionally, some embodiments of the application may allow formore than one calendaring system to be synchronized with thisappointment time.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A to 9D, a further feature associated with atleast some embodiment will now be described. FIGS. 9A to 9D show atleast some sequences associated with a screen-unlock feature that may beconfigured for use with embodiments herein. FIG. 9A shows an interimscreen that may be displayed during application launch or othertransition periods such as but not limited to when a user re-enters,re-opens, or otherwise transitions the application from a backgroundstatus to an active status.

As seen in FIGS. 9B and 9C, once the screen-unlock page is displayed,the user is shown a “keypad” for entering an unlock code. As seen inFIG. 9B, there may be a visual guide showing the number digits, letters,or combinations for the unlock code. Progress indicators can be providedso that the user has feedback on their progress in entering the unlockcode. FIG. 9C shows a screen page wherein three of the entries for theunlock code have been entered. FIG. 9D shows a screen page wherein allof the entries for the unlock code have been entered. Some embodimentsmay automatically unlock after the correct code is entered. Optionally,some embodiments may have the user press an additional key such as butnot limited to an “enter” key, “return” key, “hash” key, or similar keyto submit the code for unlock.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A to 10D, still further features associatedwith one or more embodiments of the application will now be described.FIG. 10A shows an embodiment wherein a banner on the screen pagedisplays informational notices, which as seen in FIG. 10A, may relate tolaboratory tests that may of interest to the user. FIG. 10A shows thatthis embodiment is displaying information regarding a herpes simplexvirus test. The user is presented with an option to request moreinformation.

Referring now to FIG. 10B, if the user requests more information, theuser will be provided information about the test. In one embodiment,this is done by providing a screen page that shows further informationregarding the price and other information about the test. By way ofnon-limiting example, the “at a glance” tab is provided so that a usercan have summary information about the test provided to them. In anotherembodiment, a tab may be provided to display more detailed informationabout the test. By way of non-limiting example, some embodiments mayhave an FAQ tab to provide answers to questions commonly asked bypatients.

FIGS. 10C and 10D show still further embodiments of screen pagesassociated with the application. FIG. 10C show an “about” screen pagewith additional information regarding the application, including but notlimited to use information such as a privacy policy or the like. FIG.10D shows a “settings” screen page wherein the user can adjust securitysettings such as password or passcode. The present embodiment alsoprovides an option to control location services such as but not limitedto geofencing, which in the present embodiment may allow for automaticcheck-in for appointments based on location information provided by asubject's mobile computing device.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A to 12B, it should also be understood thatsome embodiments herein may also provide tutorial screen pages thatprovide information to the user regarding the use of certain featuresand/or to inform the user about the existence of selected features whichcan provide the user with a better understanding about the application.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a screenshot is provided of an icon that maybe used to represent the application on a screen of the user's mobiledevice. Selecting this icon on the screen can be used to launch theapplication during initial use or selecting the icon can be used tore-enter the application after the user has temporarily exited theapplication.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that from onetab on the menu (in this example, the location tab), one can select thecategory to provide additional information. Herein the user can bepresented with a list of nearby locations based on GPS location providedby the phone or other location information (such as but not limited towifi based location or additional systems for providing location notbased exclusively on GPS). On the listing page, contacting the map iconcan also provide a map view of the locations from which details on thatparticular location can be displayed on the user interface.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that if one desires tolocate locations not near the current location of the user, then thereis an option to engage the search icon to enter other information suchas but not limited to zip code, street, city, state, etc. . . . toprovide a new list of locations based on the provided information.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that that there may beoptions to favorite or otherwise store preferred locations such thatthey can be retrieved by the device and/or marked to be shown as such.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. This embodiment shows that selecting the “results” categoryallows the user to show a list of result including but not limited tounread results, past results, and/or dependent results. Optionally, thenumber displayed can indicate the number of results that may be out ofthe normal range. Optionally, the number itself, the background, and/orforeground colors can be selected to correspond to an urgency ofresponse (yellow, red, etc. . . . ). In this embodiment, the resultspage can show the results summary of various panels, color indicatednumber or area for out-of-normal results, and/or comments from a medicalprofessional. As seen in FIG. 5, if there are no out-of-normal results,no color indicator and/or number may be used to show that results wereacceptable. Optionally, some embodiments may indicate visually by color(green or other positive-connotation color), shape, and/or text that theresults were acceptable.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that on the detail page forthe test results of a specific panel (in this example, the CBC panel),specific details of the test results are shown. For tests results wherethe output is a numeric value, the value and/or a position indicator ofthat value for results in an acceptable range can be shown. By way ofnon-limiting example, the data range of results can be normalized sothat the normal “green” range is the same width and/or other dimensionon the display. By normalizing the width of the normal “range” for testresults, a user can visually access where their results are in oneanalyte or category in comparison to other results for other analyte(s)and/or categories. In this particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4E, auser can view the results and by viewing the results from the top tobottom or vice versa, can get a qualitative sense of where they stand interms of their test results being in the normal range. By way ofnon-limiting example, results outside the range can be indicate bynumber, font size, font style, color and/or other indicator to show thatthey are not in the normal range. It should also be understood thatalthough this example shows the results using horizontal bars, someembodiments may use vertical bars and/or other graphing techniques todisplay the results. Normalization of ranges can also be used in thoseother graphical presentations. Of course, it should be understood thatdisplay of results in a non-normalized manner is not excluded.Optionally, some may normalize ranges for a portion of the results andnot all of them. It should also be understood that the ranges can begeneric ranges, ranges based on the particular patient, this particularpatient class, and/or some other selection criteria. It should beunderstood that some embodiments may use a mix of individual, class,and/or other criteria based ranges for the test results.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that for at least someembodiments, when new test results are received, a user can receive thatnotice in the dashboard and/or in the activity/update icon on the devicestatus bar or other area where the device may indicate a new message orother activity has occurred. In some embodiments, the user can morequickly navigate directly to the test result details from the dashboardscreen page, instead of having to show a listing of all test results andthen selecting from that list.

It should be understood that for at least some embodiments, the user canalso search the results based on variables such as text and/or otherinformation in the test results. Optionally, the results can be filteredin real-time as the user enters the search query. Optionally, someembodiments may only show the results after the query is submitted bythe user. Instead of text, some searches can be based on other criteriasuch as but not limited to only those results with out-of-range results,panic results, and/or other criteria which may be based on text entry,drop-down menu entry, check boxes, and/or other selection technique.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. At least some embodiments may be able to allow a user toshare full or partial results with another medical profession, which maybe different from the medical profession or other entity that orderedthe test. By way of non-limiting example, there may be an icon that isused to initiate the mailing of results to another party such as but notlimited to a medical professional. Optionally, some embodiments may beconfigured such that the information can only be sent to another partythat is a medical professional or otherwise authorized to receive auser's private health information. After sharing, there may be a processfor confirming to the user that the information has been shared.Optionally, some embodiments may also include information (visual orotherwise) noting which results have been shared. As seen in FIG. 6B,text or other information can also be entered by the user to accompanythe results. Optionally, the results can be sent directly to the otherparty or a link may be sent to the other party that will connect todisplay the actual results.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that varioustechniques for viewing anonymous testing results may be provided. In oneembodiment, a user can see from the list of test results that one ofthem is for an anonymous test. A user can prompted to input a code,unlock pattern, other passkey, fingerprint, retinal scan, biomarker, orother unlock credential to present the test data. Optionally, it shouldbe understood that when a biomarker or fingerprint is used, it does notreveal the user identity, only that the fingerprint, retinal scan, orbiomarker matches the one used to initiate the anonymous testing. Oncethe results code or other unlock code is verified, the user is shown thepage listing the laboratory panels for the anonymous testing. Selectingthe one or more panels will then reveal the exact test results for thescreen conditions. Optionally, once the results code or other unlockcode is verified, the test results may be directly displayed, withouthaving to view the test panel page. Optionally, some embodiments mayhave an entirely separate page for anonymous results which can only bedisplayed upon entry of user unlock credential which may be the same ordifferent for unlock credentials for the underlying test. In thismanner, the anonymous test results are not shown in the list of regulartest results and thus does not raise suspicions that any anonymoustesting has occurred if another party sees the test results listingpage.

Optionally, some embodiments may prompt the user to query whether theywant to import their anonymous testing results into the user's personalprofile. Optionally, the user may continue to set (by default or opt-in)the anonymous test results such that they can only be viewed by entry ofan unlock credential. In this manner, even importing the results into auser profile does not remove all security features for the results.Optionally, the user may select to remove one or more of the securityfeatures.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that from thetest results page, one can delete the anonymous test results byselecting the edit option. Depending on user settings, one may still beprompted to enter information to unlock the anonymous testing results.In one embodiment, the deletion of results is permanent and notreversible. Optionally, some may be reversible for a set time period.Optionally, some may be reversible within a set time period and uponentry of unlock credentials. As seen in FIG. 8, deleted results will nolonger appear on the results screen.

Creating Appointments

Although various features of the system have been described above, stillfurther aspects of various user interface embodiments included in one ormore of the various embodiments herein. One embodiment of userinterfaces may allow a user to create an appointment for a laboratorytest, based in part on a lab order that is already associated with theuser. In some embodiments, it should be understood that a user canselect to pay for the test at the patient service center where thesample will be drawn. Optionally, they may be charged for any payment,copayment, or other fee at the time the appointment is made. Of course,if it turns out that the subject fails to make the appointment, no,partial, or full refund may be processed.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that the user can berequested to acknowledge that they have read and understood the patientconsent form. In some embodiments, the check box or other confirmationdevice for acknowledgement may only appear after the user has scrolledthrough the entire patient consent form. Optionally, some embodimentsmay have check box or other acknowledgement visible and selectable bythe user from the outset, without requiring the user to scroll throughthe entire text portion of the patient consent form.

In this embodiment, the user can also select the location for performingthe sample collection. Optionally, the list may include locations nearthe user's current location, locations near a location selected by theuser, locations near a default location, and/or favorite or otherpreferred locations set by the user or based on location that the userhas visited or used in the past. Optionally, once a location isselected, a time slot can also be presented for the user to select theirpreferred locations. Optionally, some embodiments may have the userselect a time slot (or slots or time ranges) and then only present thoselocations that have availability. Optionally, the user may opt to view acalendar of open slots for a location or locations. This allows a userto review a variety of different factors and select a time slot based onmultiple factors such as different day, time appointments are available,location, and/or other services available at that location. Optionally,some locations may only have certain types of testing or collectionavailable and location presented can also limited to displaying onlythose that can perform tests noted in the lab order. Optionally, alllocations can be presented but certain locations can be noted as oneswith all testing or collection capability or only select capability.

Optionally, the payment option for the test may include “pay withoutinsurance” if no insurance information has been entered into the system.Optionally, if insurance information is already entered, it can beselected as a choice for payment. Optionally, if the user desires toenter insurance information, they can do so on this screen by selectionof an icon or other marker to take the user to that screen page.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. Various user interfaces may include option(s) for the entryof insurance information, coupon codes, credit card information, pay atstore, pay using a swiped credit card, and/or other payment services foruse in payment for services to be provided. Optionally, the system mayhave a final cost breakdown showing payment information per line itemand then requesting that the user confirm payment. After paymentinformation is provided, a user may arrive at the order details pagewith updated appointment and payment information.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. The various screenshots here show how a returning user withpayment information already in the system can set-up appointments. Afterall information is provided, a user may arrive at the order details pagewith updated appointment and payment information.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed regarding accessing appointment details from the dashboardscreen page. A user tapping on an appointment from the dashboard canbring up an appointment details page where the user can drill intoassociated lab orders or get directions.

In one non-limiting example, the user can access appointment details byselecting the lab order, where on the lab order details page, the usercan select the lab appointment area. This brings the user to theappointment details screen.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that that user can edit anappointment, during the appointment scheduling process or after anappointment has been scheduled. Using at least one of the abovetechniques to arrive at the payment page, one can then change location,change time of the appointment or the like. Optionally, the changing oflocation can also present a new set of appointment times. Optionally,the changing of appointment times may present a new list of locationswith availability for those appointment time(s). Some embodiments mayallow for the selection of ranges of dates and/or times. Optionally,some embodiments may allow for calendar view of available slots at oneor more locations, which can be useful if the user has a schedule thatis not restricted to specific times.

In some embodiments, there can be options on the screen page forcanceling an appointment. By way of non-limiting example, once a user ison the appointment details page, the options to edit the page includescanceling the appointment. Optionally, some embodiments may have thecancel appointment option on the dashboard as an icon or other item thatis more directly accessible to the user. Once an appointment iscanceled, the status of the lab order returns to the prior conditionsuch as but not limited to “schedule appointment” or the like.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that one can ona single screen set the appointment for a plurality of laboratoryorders. It should be understood that these orders can be from the sameor different medical professionals. It should also be understood thatthese orders can be from the same or different medical organizations. Inthis manner, the sample collection for laboratory orders can be done atone location while the results can be for a plurality of differentmedical professionals/organizations. Optionally, the selection ofmultiple laboratory orders can be done by selecting checkboxes for eachof the laboratory orders, or optionally, some embodiments are configuredto default to select all open laboratory orders for that user, with anopt-out to un-select those orders that the user does not want to set forappointment.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that in someembodiments there is a short cut or reduced number of steps to reorder acompleted or previous lab test. Optionally, in some embodiments, thereis a short cut or reduced number of steps to reorder an expired labtest. By way of non-limiting example, some embodiments may present anoption to call the medical professional to discuss any concerns orissues.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. In some embodiments, it should be understood that a user canself-order an anonymous test. In one non-limiting example, the testorder page can show a plurality of tests that can be ordered under ananonymous basis. Optionally, a regular test menu can also be shown insome embodiments, wherein the “make results anonymous” option cananonymize those tests that have that option available. In this manner,the anonymous testing feature can be activated after tests are selected,instead of vice versa where the anonymous option is first selected andthen a panel of anonymous tests is provided. Optionally, even when theanonymous test option is selected first, some embodiments herein canallow for the addition of one or more non-anonymous test after thedesired test or tests are selected from the anonymous panel. Optionally,some embodiments allow for self-order of any tests in the test menu,based on location of the selected location, with or without a doctor'sorder. In this non-limiting example, the location of the user can beused to determine if a doctor's order is necessary. Optionally, thelocation of the appointment site is used to determine if a doctor'sorder is necessary based on state, federal, or local law for thatlocation.

The anonymous testing may be shown with pricing of each test displayedto the user at the review order screen. Again, in this particularembodiment, the order details page shows the pricing of test(s). Theuser can schedule the appointment as part of the process related tocreating and/or paying for the laboratory order.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed of how to edit user profile information. In one embodiment, aspinner selector can be invoked. A spinner may be similar to a drop downmenu in that they do not block access to the rest of the screen. Othersmay use a dial or other selector.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed how it is possible to auto-populate information, such as butnot limited to insurance provider information by capturing an image ofthe insurance provider card. In this non-limiting example, the user mayselect if the image will be of the front or the rear of the card.Optionally, some embodiments may not need the user to select which sideof the card is being imaged; the system will extract information fromthe image and use as appropriate. In one non-limiting example, the userin at least some embodiments, can also set whether the insurance statusis active or not. In some embodiments, it should be understood thatthere may be a user interface for removing insurance information for auser account.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. wherein a user can also re-order the insurance priorities inthe account such that primary, secondary, tertiary, and/or otherdesignations can be associated with the various insurance and/or paymentoptions. In some embodiments, it should be understood that one can setthe insurance for one of the primary, secondary, tertiary, and/or otherdesignated insurance to be inactive.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. wherein at least one element on a screen page is providedwhere a user can set the dependents associated with the user account. Insome embodiments, it should be understood that the user can manuallyenter the information.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. wherein at least one element on a screen page can allow auser to set dependent information from the user's contact list. As seenin this embodiment, the user will be able to important information butwill generally also be requested to supply other information that maynot be included as part of the normal contact information (such asbirthdate of the dependent, relationship to the primary member, if theyhave a different primary insurance, etc. . . . ).

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. wherein a user, for this embodiment, can edit the dependentinformation and/or edit or delete their relationship information. Theinformation can be edited using the mobile device and/or can bysynchronized with any changes made through other user devices accessingthe same account, such as but not limited through changes on a website.Although the embodiments herein describe the user interface as throughan application on a mobile device, it should be understood that for anyof the user interfaces and/or workflows herein that the changes may bemade on a website, such as but not limited to ones with specific domainsuffixes like .me or the like. By way of example and not limitation,medical professionals may edit their profiles and information throughwebsites such as those with an .md suffix.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein a user, for this non-limiting example, can edit thepayment information, particularly for non-insurance payment methods. Itshould be understood that security protocols for secure transmission ofpayment information can be used to protect the information that is beingsent.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein the user can also edit the payment information such asfor credit card payment information. Optionally, the credit cardinformation can also be deleted, as selected from a list of possiblepayment items.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein for this embodiment, a user can change password orother security setting.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein for this embodiment, a user can select the copyrightprint in the sidebar and by doing so can invoke a spinner that allows auser to read the privacy policy and/or the terms of use.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein for this embodiment, the user is shown a login pagewherein after the login process, the user is taken to a dashboard wherethe user is shown a health tracker or summary page of relevant healthparameters, lab results, and/or lab orders.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. FIGS. 11A-12B shows that for this embodiment, the user isprovided a tutorial that can communicate values and/or features to theuser. The user can also be shown a map of nearby testing locations.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein for this embodiment, the user can sign-up for theservice once they have acknowledged the various privacy forms, terms ofuse, and/or privacy policy. In one non-limiting example, all of theseacknowledgements can occur prior the user even filling out the emailaddress, password, name, birthday, and/or user name fields. Optionally,all acknowledgements can occur after collection of information, butprior to completing account setup. Optionally, some embodiments may havea portion of the acknowledgements before entry of sign-up informationand a portion after sign-up. Optionally, some acknowledgements, such asthe HIPAA form, may require more than one check-box or otheracknowledgement. For any of the acknowledgements herein, it should beunderstood that some may be configured so that the acknowledgement boxor other interface for receiving the user's acknowledgement may beconfigure to appear only after all of the text, graphics, and/orinformation to be acknowledged has been displayed to the user.

In one non-limiting example, a close-up view of one embodiment of afirst-time user dashboard and sidebar is shown. Optionally, someembodiments may include a returning user dashboard and sidebar.

Optionally, one embodiment of a system for restoring a user password isshown. This embodiment uses a temporary password. Optionally, someembodiments can be provided that re-set the password by taking the userdirectly to a re-set password interface, without using an intermediatetemporary password.

Optionally, one embodiment of an interface provides for logging out auser.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein one or more embodiments may include one or morefeatures for the uploading of information for paper laboratory or testorders into the system. In this non-limiting example, an image can becaptured of the physical laboratory order and then the informationextracted from that image. By way of example, the image capture can beachieved through a camera (front or rear facing) that is part of thedevice, through a scanner attached to the device, and/or through otherimage capture device.

It should be understood that the captured image may have imperfectionsassociated with the skill of the user, the quality of the image capturedevice, and/or the condition of the physical condition of the originallaboratory order. Some embodiments herein may use a mechanical devicewith a clear cover to hold the original flat. Optionally, the image canbe processed through services similar to Instagram, ImageMagick, AdobeAcrobat Pro, or the like to condition the image to be in a state thatallows for accurate data capture of information on the laboratory order.By way of non-limiting example, creases or other fold lines in thelaboratory order can detected and then deleted or minimized so as not tointerfere with data capture of information on the laboratory order.Optionally, some embodiments may use image processing to find and removea long line, more than 1 pixel wide or remove all horizontal or verticalblack lines that are at least 30 pixels long. Optionally, the image canbe compared to known forms of laboratory orders, which can then be usedto decipher text that may be unclear. The type of known form can beselected based on an initial image capture that may include the name ofthe referring physician or laboratory and/or any laboratory formidentification number. The image processing can occur on the user'sdevice, in a server, and/or on both.

In one non-limiting example, images of the laboratory order can loadedfrom a user's album of photos on the user's. Optionally, it can beloaded from an on-line album of photos that are not resident on theuser's device.

Various techniques and user interfaces for updating a user's profileinformation are shown.

One embodiment will now be described for uploading insurance informationand/or deleting insurance information from a category view of aplurality of insurance options. The insurance may optionally be verifiedby connection to a back-end processing server that has insuranceinformation that confirms that the insurance information a user entersis up-to-date and that the insurance coverage is verified as valid.

Non-limiting examples of using the drag-and-drop feature to reorder theinsurance priorities is shown. Optionally, one embodiment allows a userto set the insurance provider to inactive. This embodiment can also askthe user about the reason for the change.

Techniques for how dependent information may be entered and/or edited.This can be done using techniques as previously described herein.

In one non-limiting embodiment, a screen page is provided so thatemergency contact information can be entered into a user's profile.Optionally, a user can import an emergency contact from the user'scontact information on the device or on a server. The user can also addcertain information such as birthdate, contact priority, relationship tothe user, or the like. Some embodiments can create contact prioritiesbased on the stated relationship to the user.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed. The user can add a doctor to the information for the useraccount. The doctor can be further selected from a “find a specialist”button to locate the type of specialist, wherein the result list can besorted by distance from current location, alphabetically, or othercriteria. Optionally, a user can edit a doctor's profile and/or removeit from the list.

User interfaces may have at least one webpage for adding and/or editingcredit card information to the user account.

In one non-limiting example, a user interface is configured for addingand/or editing a medical condition associated with the user. In thisnon-limiting example, when a condition is added to a user profile suchas their medical history, then a user can also enter information about adoctor who diagnosed the condition. Optionally, a user can also use thisto add a condition this is currently symptomatic and perhaps notofficially diagnosed. This can be selected, in one option, from the datewhere the user could not that this a current condition and the doctorwhich the user selected can be used to confirm this diagnosis. In onenon-limiting example, a user can opt to have the system schedule anappointment with the doctor or optionally, have a message sent to thedoctor about the condition, at which point the doctor or someone workingwith or associated with the doctor, can contact the user to follow-up onthat condition.

In one non-limiting example, user interfaces/workflows are provided foradding and/or editing a medical condition associated with the user. Thisnon-limiting example shows that user may first initiate the informationinput by selecting the doctor and is not limited to first selecting thecondition. Thus, the sequence in which the information is input is notlimited to order presented on the new condition user interface screen.

In one non-limiting example, user interfaces/workflows are configuredfor importing doctor or other medical professional information fromcontact list that the user has already created for other purposes.Optionally, even after import, the user may be requested to addadditional information about the doctor. Optionally, the system can alsoauto populate some of this information by correlating the doctor's nameand/or other identifier information to external or other databases tofill-in information that the user may not have provided. Someembodiments may prompt the user to confirm that the auto filledinformation is accurate or acceptable to the user before saving it tothe user account.

One non-limiting example of user interfaces/workflows may include one ormore features for adding “places” to the user account. These places canbe, but are not limited to, places that are patient service centers thatcan collect samples for use with the testing associated with the system.The “my places” tab can save favorite or other locations that the userdesires to have associated with their account. The “my places” tab canprovide locations where the user has previously tested or where the usermay prefer to go for testing. “My places” may be included in the defaultlist of locations when results are pulled up for open appointment times,nearby locations, etc. . . . . They may be included as part of the listin a non-preferred manner, or preferentially listed at the top or otherlocation in the listing. Optionally, some embodiments may use visualcues to highlight the locations which are part of the “my places”.

Some embodiments may provide user interfaces/workflows for managing anappoint expiration alert. Optionally, some embodiments may provide userinterfaces/workflows for managing a user's password. Optionally, someembodiments may provide user interfaces/workflows for obtaining userfeedback on the application. Optionally, some embodiments may provideuser interfaces/workflows for reviewing privacy policy and/or terms ofuse.

Non-limiting examples of user interfaces/workflows for user loginscreens may include information reminding users about conveniences oradvantages of the present system, such as but not limited to the smallsize of the collected sample, slogans regarding advantages, visualsregarding the sample collected, lists of benefits, or the otherreminders. Optionally, some embodiments can provide maps showing nearbytest locations on the login screen.

Optionally, non-limiting examples of user interfaces/workflows for userlogin screens are shown.

Non-limiting examples of user interfaces/workflows for user loginscreens may comprise a login screen for the user where a password isrequired along with an associated username or email address. Optionally,a login screen may comprise or lead to a setup screen where a user canenter a PIN for locking or unlocking the program.

Non-limiting examples of user interfaces/workflows for user lab ordersmay comprise a green icon can be used to denote where a user can selectdifferent actions to bring-up a menu, dashboard, or the like. In oneembodiment, the panel details may include results that are plotted alongan acceptable range. Additional panel details can also be provided onthe same or different screen. In one non-limiting example, the paneldetails and results are shown on the same page.

Non-limiting examples of user interfaces/workflows for ordering testsmay include at least one screen page feature wherein a user selects thestate in which the user plans to have the test conducted. Optionally,some embodiments may have the system configured such that a defaultlocation is entered into the test order interface and the user can optto change it. Optionally, the default location can be input based on theuser location based on GPS, IP, and/or other location information. Oncethe test state is selected, a menu of available tests can be displayed,from which the user can select the desired test(s). Optionally, pricingfor the tests can also be display. It should be understood that in someembodiments, the pricing is shown for an un-subsidized and/ornon-insurance covered user. Optionally, the pricing may include anadditional column and/or other display option showing pricing based ondefault insurance coverage, some default pricing based on differentinsurance company, and/or based on insurance (primary, secondary, orotherwise) that the user has input into their profile. Optionally, thepricing based on insurance which the user may not have can be used tosuggest to the user that certain insurance coverage may be beneficial tothem. By way of non-limiting example, there may also be a link or clickif the user desires to find out more about the sign-up, pricing, and/orcost for health insurance. This can result in a browser or othersoftware application being opened that brings the user to a differentuser interface that has more information about the potential insurancecoverage or other product that can be interest to the user.

Still further aspects of various user interface embodiments will now bedescribed wherein a user can confirm the test order which may or may notalso include the pricing. It should be understood that for those withinsurance coverage, the pricing may be reduced to a single co-paypayment that would be the amount, assuming that insurance coverage forthat test is or can be verified. Some embodiments may optionally alsodisplay a second dollar amount that would be the charge if the user'sinsurance authorization is not approved. A user may optionally berequested to confirm their order more than once, such as but not limitedto clicking two check boxes or other confirmation interface, thusconfirming that the authorize payment for either the insurance coveredand/or the non-insurance covered pricing. Optionally, some embodimentscan perform the dual confirmation by using separate user interfacescreens or the like.

In one non-limiting example, user menu screen can also be shown on oneportion of the screen. Although full screen coverage is not excluded,the menu screen can be a menu that covers only a portion of the entirescreen, leaving other portions visible and/or shadowed.

In one non-limiting example, interfaces may be provided on one or morescreen pages for basic information about the user, guardian details,contact details, search doctors, and/or other information about theuser.

Medical Professional Using Application to Schedule Appointment

Optionally, some embodiments may have a doctor or other authorizedmedical professional create an appointment using the workflow herein,except instead of scheduling appointments for themselves, they have theauthorized credential(s) to schedule the appointment for their patient.

In this non-limiting example, this version of the schedulingapplication, similar to the “administrator-level” permissions or otherhigh-than-standard permissions, allows the professional to use versionsof the application described herein to order, to schedule, or to orderand schedule clinical laboratory test(s) for a patient. Thishigh-than-standard permission(s) may, in some embodiments, have adifferent workflow. Some embodiments may add to the workflow by havingmenu(s) or additional screen page(s) for selecting, entering, orotherwise identifying the patient for which the medical professional iscreating the order/appointment. As described herein, some embodimentsmay allow the professional to scan in a barcode using the camera on hisor her mobile device, scan an ID of the patient (wherein the ID may beone not issued by the professional scanning the barcode, to take animage of the test order and have the information optically recognized(wherein image process can occur at the local site or at a remote site),or allowing the professional to select from a list of patients from adrop-down menus, pick lists, or other known or future techniques forpresenting filtered data sets for further filtering by user selection.

Multi-Source Data Integration

Data collection from multiple sources, such as but not limited to datafrom personal activity monitors, wifi enabled weight scales, and othermonitoring devices can provide a significant amount of data with limitedintegration capabilities. The further category of data from clinicallaboratory tests is yet another level of data that is withoutintegration today. There may be some devices that a user can personallyuse to monitor level(s) of analyte(s), but those are typically analytelevels from waived devices.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference tocertain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications,substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.For example, with any of the above embodiments, it should be understoodthat the user interfaces herein are not limited to IOS or Android andthat other operating systems are not excluded.

For some embodiments herein, as data is sent to the cloud, the metadatain the file may be corrupted or not provide desired informationregarding when test was taken. Some embodiments herein may opt not touse any of the metadata associated with the data. Optionally, someembodiments may extract metadata at the device and include it as part ofthe data such as but not limited to a value of one or more the datafields that are transmitted, instead of residing in the background asmetadata. Optionally, the harvesting of the metadata can occur in thecloud. It may continue to be part of the metadata of the file or it canbe incorporated into one or more the data fields that are transmittedonward to the laboratory.

Some embodiments herein may include an opt-in and/or opt-out userinterface page or question so that the user may select the privacy,clinical trial, and/or other participation in programs associated withthe user and/or the test data.

Additionally, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may bepresented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that suchrange format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should beinterpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitlyrecited as the limits of the range, but also to include all theindividual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that rangeas if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. Forexample, a size range of about 1 nm to about 200 nm should beinterpreted to include not only the explicitly recited limits of about 1nm and about 200 nm, but also to include individual sizes such as 2 nm,3 nm, 4 nm, and sub-ranges such as 10 nm to 50 nm, 20 nm to 100 nm, etc. . . .

The publications discussed or cited herein are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention.Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from theactual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by referenceto disclose and describe the structures and/or methods in connectionwith which the publications are cited. The following applications arefully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes:

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatsuch embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilledin the art without departing from the invention. It should be understoodthat various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention describedherein may be employed in practicing the invention. Any feature, whetherpreferred or not, may be combined with any other feature, whetherpreferred or not. The appended claims are not to be interpreted asincluding means-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation isexplicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase “means for.” Itshould be understood that as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the”includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.For example, a reference to “an assay” may refer to a single assay ormultiple assays. Also, as used in the description herein and throughoutthe claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Finally, as used in thedescription herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of“or” includes both the conjunctive and disjunctive unless the contextexpressly dictates otherwise. Thus, the term “or” includes “and/or”unless the context expressly dictates otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for allowing a customer to order aclinical laboratory test with an application executing on aninternet-enabled mobile device, where the internet-enabled mobile devicecomprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and a cameraconfigured to capture an image that has at least a classification ofdisease code number encoded therein, the method comprising: causing theprocessor to display an interface in the application executing on theinternet-enabled mobile device, the interface for selection of a testorder option; receiving an input at the processor from the customerindicating, via the application, a selection of the test option; theapplication causing the processor to activate the internet-enabledmobile device's camera for scanning of a barcode; the applicationcausing automatically or upon a user input, the camera to capture animage, displayed in the application, of the barcode indicating at leasta test number; the application causing the processor to transmit fromthe application, over a network, to a server, data indicative of atleast the test number so that the server can automatically validate thetest number by verifying that the test number exists in a database oftest numbers; receiving information at the internet-enabled mobiledevice, over the network, at least a portion of which is to be displayedin an order review page of the application executing on theinternet-enabled mobile device; correcting the image captured by thecamera using an image correction algorithm that removes defects in theimage associated with fold lines or substantially linear typeaberrations in the image; comparing the corrected image to images ofknown laboratory forms to correct for data captured from the correctedimage; causing the processor to generate a display in the applicationincluding the at least the portion of received information in an orderreview page, wherein the information includes the test number and a testlocation where a sample is to be collected for the test; wherein theinformation to be displayed in the order review page includes a samplecollection location and an option to change the sample collectionlocation; transmitting from the internet-enabled mobile device, inresponse to an action by the customer viewing the displayed order reviewpage, to the server and via the network, a confirmation to schedule thetest; and based on geographic location of a test site selected by thecustomer, causing the processor to display a further interface for acustomer to self-order the laboratory test for the customer, without aphysician's order, based on geographic location of test site that allowsfor such self-ordering, wherein the displayed interface includes only asubset of tests available on a test menu for the selected test site. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising, allowing a user to order atest from within the application, the application causing: automaticallyvalidating with one of the one or more processors the test number byverifying that the test number exists in a database of test numberscorresponding to previously filled test medications; receiving over anetwork at the internet-enabled mobile device, test information when thetest number was verified; wherein the test information to be displayedin a second display includes a sample collection test location and anoption to change the sample collection test location.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising, wherein a laboratory test menu of orderabletests varies based on geographic location.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the bar code comprises a matrix barcode.
 5. The method of claim1 wherein the internet-enabled mobile device comprises a mobile phone.6. The method of claim 1 wherein the internet-enabled mobile device hasa touch sensitive display screen.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising activating a global positioning system (GPS) device in theinternet-enabled mobile device to provide a current position of theinternet-enabled mobile device, wherein said location is used by theuser to select the test site.
 8. A system for receiving a customerlaboratory order for a clinical laboratory test, the system comprising:a communication network; one or more internet-enabled mobile devices,each internet-enabled mobile device having a processor, a memory coupledto the processor and a camera coupled to the processor and the memory;and one or more server computers communicatively coupled to thecommunication network and the one or more internet-enabled mobiledevices; one of the one or more internet-enabled mobile devices havingan application stored thereon; the application configured to cause theprocessor to display an interface in the application executing on theinternet-enabled mobile device, the interface for selection of a testoption; the application configured to receive an input at the processorfrom the customer indicating, via the application, a selection of thetest option; the application configured to cause the processor toactivate the internet-enabled mobile device's camera for scanning of abarcode; the application configured to cause, automatically or upon auser input, the camera to capture an image, displayed in theapplication, of the barcode indicating at least a test number, the testnumber corresponding to a test medication and a patient; the applicationconfigured to cause the processor to transmit from the application, overthe communication network, to at least one of the one or more servercomputers, data indicative of at least the test number so that theserver can automatically validate the test number by verifying that thetest number exists in a database; the application configured to receiveinformation at the internet-enabled mobile device, over thecommunication network, at least a portion of which is to be displayed inan order review page of the application executing on theinternet-enabled mobile device; the application configured to cause theprocessor to generate a display in the application including the atleast the portion of received information in an order review page,wherein the information includes the test number and a sample collectionlocation; the application configured to transmit from theinternet-enabled mobile device, in response to an action by the customerviewing the displayed order review page, to at least one of the one ormore server computers and via the communication network, a testconfirmation; wherein based on geographic location of a test siteselected by the customer, the internet-enable mobile device isconfigured to display an interface with test menu specific for that testsite selected by the customer; a device for correcting the imagecaptured by the camera using an image correction algorithm that removesdefects in the image associated with fold lines or substantially lineartype aberrations in the image and comparing the corrected image toimages of known laboratory forms to correct for data captured from thecorrected image, wherein the displayed interface includes only a subsetof tests available on a test menu for the selected test site.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8 wherein the barcode comprises a matrix barcode. 10.The system of claim 8 wherein the internet-enabled mobile devicecomprises a mobile phone.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein theinternet-enabled mobile device has a touch sensitive display screen. 12.The system of claim 8 wherein the internet-enabled mobile device furthercomprises a global positioning system (GPS) device to provide a currentposition of the internet-enabled mobile device, wherein said location isused by the user to select the test site.
 13. A method for allowing acustomer to order a clinical laboratory test with an applicationexecuting on an internet-enabled mobile device, where theinternet-enabled mobile device comprises a processor, a memory coupledto the processor and a camera configured to capture an image that has atleast a classification of disease code number encoded therein, themethod comprising: causing the processor to display an interface in theapplication executing on the internet-enabled mobile device, theinterface for selection of a test order option; receiving an input atthe processor from the customer indicating, via the application, aselection of the test option; the application causing the processor toactivate the internet-enabled mobile device's camera for scanning of abarcode; the application causing automatically or upon a user input, thecamera to capture an image, displayed in the application, of the barcodeindicating at least a test number; the application causing the processorto transmit from the application, over a network, to a server, dataindicative of at least the test number so that the server canautomatically validate the test number by verifying that the test numberexists in a database of test numbers; receiving information at theinternet-enabled mobile device, over the network, at least a portion ofwhich is to be displayed in an order review page of the applicationexecuting on the internet-enabled mobile device; correcting the imagecaptured by the camera using an image correction algorithm that removesdefects in the image associated with fold lines or substantially lineartype aberrations in the image; comparing the corrected image to imagesof known laboratory forms to correct for data captured from thecorrected image; causing the processor to generate a display in theapplication including the at least the portion of received informationin an order review page, wherein the information includes the testnumber and a test location where a sample is to be collected for thetest; wherein the information to be displayed in the order review pageincludes a sample collection location and an option to change the samplecollection location; transmitting from the internet-enabled mobiledevice, in response to an action by the customer viewing the displayedorder review page, to the server and via the network, a confirmation toschedule the test; and based on geographic location of a test siteselected by the customer, causing the processor to display a furtherinterface for a customer to self-order the laboratory test for thecustomer, without a physician's order, based on geographic location oftest site that allows for such self-ordering, wherein the displayedinterface includes only a subset of tests available on a test menu forthe selected test site; wherein self-ordering is only activated based ongeographic location of a selected test site that allows for suchself-ordering.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bar code comprisesa matrix barcode.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein theinternet-enabled mobile device comprises a mobile phone.
 16. The methodof claim 13 wherein the internet-enabled mobile device has a touchsensitive display screen.
 17. The method of claim 13 further comprisingactivating a global positioning system (GPS) device in theinternet-enabled mobile device to provide a current position of theinternet-enabled mobile device, wherein said current position is used bythe user to select the test site.